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China travel and tour destination Suzhou

China Destination Guide - Suzhou 苏州

Suzhou is perhaps the most famous of the water towns that dot Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces surrounding Shanghai. Suzhou is all serene canals and classical Chinese gardens only 30 minutes by high speed train from downtown Shanghai. The old city is now surrounded by an increasingly ambitious new Suzhou but it's office and apartment towers are still a world away from ancient Suzhou which is sometimes referred to as the Venice of the East.

➤ TCTC Tip: Suzhou is easily visited as a day tour from Shanghai or combined with Hangzhou.

What there is to see in Suzhou:

Gardens and there are many of them some of which are over 1,000 years old. Mostly established by wealthy merchants they all feature various designs of pavilions, ponds and rock gardens whose aspects change through the seasons.
Gondola trips on the Canals that pass through the city are a great way to escape the hustle of the city streets and step back into a calmer, quieter time.
The Suzhou Silk Museum highlights this 4,000 year old industry that made all Suzhou's wealth possible. Learn the secrets of silk which were so closely guarded by China for millennia.
Shantang 7 mile Street a traditional style shopping area with cafes and regular perfomances of traditional chinese music on the balconies of the teahouses lining the narrow streets.

Best time to Visit the Suzhou

April and May as well as September, October and November are the best but December, January and March are also not bad. Summer months are hot, humid and rainy but that doesn't stop the tourists, and the gardens are lush at this time.

Best reason to visit the Suzhou

The old city of Suzhou with its gardens and canals is the perfect contrast to big city Shanghai. The number and variety of the gardens make Suzhou stand out from other delta towns and an hour or two cruising the canals allows a peak into an older China.

Our last word on the Suzhou

At only 30 minutes by high speed train from Shanghai, Suzhou can be visited as a day trip. However, it is worth spending the night to enjoy the old city during the evening. Suzhou is one of the most popular side trips from Shanghai.